Short news from European Zoos

05-05-2007

Chester had pairs of both Western and Eastern Lowland Gorillas, but never bred either. The last Western Gorilla from Chester was the male Jason who died some years ago at Bristol. The last Eastern Lowland(and last Chester gorilla) was Mukisi, who died a few years ago at Antwerp Zoo. Unfortunately Chester kept them only as pairs -in the days when not a lot was known about their social requirements for breeding.

The Eastern Lowlands lived in the tropical house, their inside area is I think, a Hornbill aviary nowadays, and the outside(which was two islands) has been converted too- it may be Red River Hogs there?

The Western Lowlands lived first in the tropical house, and later in the Orangutan House, they used the Island which the Bornean Orangutans use nowadays(until they move that is).

I think that if it was modernised inside and out, the old Orang House would be fine for a batchelor group of Gorillas- but maybe it'll be demolished now? I know they have often wanted Gorillas back in their collection as the public always ask for them.

06-05-2007

The old orang house will become an off-show area and maybe it will be demolished in the future but not for a while.

Are there many eastern lowland gorrilas in zoos? I've only seen them at Antwerp.

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Jonathan Beilby-www.zooscene.co.uk

(Join the hornbill group-www.zoobeat.com/group.php?groupid=2)

06-05-2007

None except Antwerp now and they have only two females living with an infertile Western Lowland Male. The last Eastern Lowland was Mukisi from Chester, he lived at Antwerp quite a long time and was pretty old. One of the two females at Antwerp(Victoria) was born there, the other female 'Amohoro' they're not sure of her subspecies, she's either an Eastern Lowland or a (true) Mountain gorilla.

06-05-2007

There aren't any mountain gorrilas in zoos are there?

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Jonathan Beilby-www.zooscene.co.uk

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07-05-2007

not any more hornybill. unless the animal grant mentioned is in fact a true mountain gorilla as he said. there was another solitary (though he had some colobus for company) male eastern lowland at houston. but he died of old age a few years ago.

its a shame they never prospered in captivity, many (too many) were caught and sent to zoos in the 60's and 70's only to die shortly afterwards. i suspect this was more to do with the poor knowledge of caring for gorillas in general rather than the species being less hardy than the more commonly kept western gorilla.

i have little doubt there are a few cross river western gorillas (and or cross river blood) scattered amongst out "lowland" western gorilla population. plenty of animals came into captivity with mere anecdotal or unkown histories.

there may very well be some easterns in captivity in africa. but i'm not sure..

07-05-2007

I've seen and have a copy the super zoo plans for Chester and it shows a wonderful gorilla enclosure. I would show you them but they're private/confidential.

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Jonathan Beilby-www.zooscene.co.uk

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07-05-2007

I'll have to admit(definately not a boast) that I am one of the few people I know that's seen a true Mountain Gorilla(G.g.Beringei) in a zoo- in Cologne Germany in the late 1960's/ 1970's they had two females given to them by the Rwandan Government. Diane Fossey was looking after them at her camp after they had been orphaned by poachers. Strongly against her wishes they were sent to Germany-Cologne Zoo was heavily critiicised (rightly) for accepting them.

Originally thought to be a pair, 'Coco' & 'Pucker' turned out both females. No male was forthcoming and they only lived to about ten years old before dying within a couple of months of each other. The sad story of Coco and Pucker and their totally wasted lives in Cologne was one of the very worst examples of bad zoo practise.
Another previous 'Beringei' in a zoo was 'Reuben' who lived for just a couple of years at London Zoo in the early 1960's, when they had for a short time, a representative of all three races/species.

I've seen several photos of the Antwerp female 'Amohoro' whose provenance is in question- she looks rather more Eastern Lowland than true Mountain- but possibly she could be from the Bwindi population- they look almost intermediate in appearance between the other two forms.

07-05-2007

Hey hey, what's all this? Do you mean they are to have Gorillas again, or is this just some sort of idealised wish plan for the future? I don't need to see any plans, but is this a definite go-er or what? What is the time frame involved?

Mr Hornbill- get me accurate info here please....

07-05-2007

[quote=patrick;12648]

its a shame they never prospered in captivity, many (too many) were caught and sent to zoos in the 60's and 70's only to die shortly afterwards.

i have little doubt there are a few cross river western gorillas (and or cross river blood) scattered amongst out "lowland" western gorilla population. plenty of animals came into captivity with mere anecdotal or unkown histories.

07-05-2007

[quote=patrick;12648]

its a shame they never prospered in captivity, many (too many) were caught and sent to zoos in the 60's and 70's only to die shortly afterwards.

i have little doubt there are a few cross river western gorillas (and or cross river blood) scattered amongst out "lowland" western gorilla population. plenty of animals came into captivity with mere anecdotal or unkown histories.

Patrick- I don't know of any other mountain gorillas entering captivity since about 1960 apart from the two Cologne females and the little male 'Reuben' at London, both mentioned above. Very few Eastern lowlands have been in captivity either. San Diego had two males in the 1940's. In the 1960's Antwerp had two pairs and over many years bred just one young successfully(the female 'Victoria' who is still there), Chester had one pair(never bred), Oklahoma had a male 'Mkubwa' he's the one who ended up at Houston. They just don't seem obtainable like Lowlands.

Re Cross River gorillas- who knows how many, if any , are in zoos? There's one certain female at(i think) the Limbe Research Centre in Africa. There don't seem to be any external differences to go by, do there?.

07-05-2007

It's a 300 million project that would take place over the next 20 years. It is a plan that COULD be put into action. The first 100 million has already be finalised and will be put into action. It is the zoning of the zoo. There will be a grassland zone, forest zone, Islands and water zone and an African safari zone.

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Jonathan Beilby-www.zooscene.co.uk

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07-05-2007

Okay- then its something for the longterm, not soon.

Some years ago when Chessington were thinking of closing down the Animals section of the Adventure Park, Chester were very keen to aquire their Gorilla group, which is a thriving one. They were prepared to build an enclosure specially in readiness, but it never happened. Chessington still have the Gorillas(now ten of them)

07-05-2007

That's quite a big group isn't it. I mean not as big as the aspinnal parks but then none are as big are they.

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Jonathan Beilby-www.zooscene.co.uk

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08-05-2007

Chessington Gorilla group is the next biggest in Uk after the Howletts/Port Lympne ones. Rather odd as they live in what is really an Amusement Park.

08-05-2007

Is it a nice enclosure. The chimps at Flamingo land have a wonderful one. Well as do all the animals. The lion exhibit is over an acre in size

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Jonathan Beilby-www.zooscene.co.uk

(Join the hornbill group-www.zoobeat.com/group.php?groupid=2)